System and method for automatically deslugging an agricultural combine

ABSTRACT

A deslugging method and system for an agricultural combine, providing several semi- and fully automated operating modes or routines for removing or dislodging a slug of crop and/or other material from the threshing system and/or a feeder of the combine for conveying crop material to the threshing system. The routines can include reciprocating, agitating and jogging routines, which can be automatically altered during execution responsive to sensed or changing conditions, as processed by a suitable filter such as a simplified Kalman type signal filter, for generating a real time estimation and prediction of the various states of the threshing system.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to an agricultural combine, and moreparticularly, to a threshing system and operating method therefor,providing several semi- and fully automated operating modes for removingor dislodging a slug of crop and/or other material from the threshingsystem and/or a feeder of the combine for conveying crop material to thethreshing system.

BACKGROUND ART

Agricultural combines comprise a variety of apparatus and systems forreceiving and processing crops. In particular, a combine will include aheader operable for severing crops and other plant material from rootstructure and conveying the severed crop and plant material to a feederof the combine. The feeder will typically include an enclosed feederhousing containing a conveyor mechanism, which conveying mechanism willtypically include parallel chains connected by slats, which chainsencircle sprockets which are driven by a feeder drive to move the chainsand slats upwardly and rearwardly along a floor of the housing, forinducting and conveying the crop and plant material, as well as debristhat may be contained therein, into an inlet region of a threshingsystem of the combine. The threshing system, in turn, will typicallyinclude at least one rotor rotatable within a cavity or space defined atleast partially by a concave structure having an array or arrays ofopenings therein sized for passage of grain therethrough. The rotor willinclude elements for inducting the crop and other material into thecavity and conveying the material through a crop separation clearancebetween the outer region of the rotor and the inner region of theconcave, for separating grain and other small elements of the cropmaterial from larger elements thereof, typically including leaves,stalks, cobs, husks and the like, depending on the crop being harvested.The separated grain is then expected to pass through the openings of theconcave for further processing.

From time to time during operation of an agricultural combine, a slug,that is, an incorrectly processed and/or compacted mass of crop materialand/or weeds, particularly stringy or viny weeds, debris, or othermaterial, may be inducted into the feeder and/or threshing system andbecome lodged or packed or jammed, to possibly interrupt throughput ofcrop material through the combine, and/or damage to components of thefeeder and/or threshing system, thus necessitating removal of the slug.Removal of the slug can entail backing it away from the location withinthe feeder and/or threshing system at which it became lodged,sufficiently so as to break it up or better process or compact it forpassage through the feeder and/or threshing system.

Once a slug has developed in the feeder or threshing system of acombine, a number of different actions depending on, the combine status,the type, severity and location of the slug, may be necessary to effectremoval of the slug. For instance, in what can be deemed a simple case,it may be sufficient to repeatedly jog the rotor through small angularmovements, until the resulting low impulsive loads breakdown the slugand free it. In a more extreme example, it may be necessary to moreviolently rock the rotor back and forth in an agitating motion, atdifferent amplitudes and different frequencies, occasionally with anasymmetric motion and relatively large impulsive loads, for extendedperiods of time, to incrementally dislodge or work the slug free. In aneven more extreme example, manual intervention may be required, to openup the rotor/concave/feeder system, and manually clear the slug piece bypiece. Sometimes in such more extreme instances components of therotor/concave/feeder system may be forced out of adjustment or damagedby the slug. Obviously, manual removal of a slug can be time-consumingand labor intensive.

Thus, what is sought is a system and method for automatically desluggingthe threshing and/or feeder system of an agricultural combine, whichovercomes one or more of the shortcomings and limitations set forthabove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

What is disclosed is a system and method for automatically desluggingthe threshing and/or feeder system of a combine, which overcomes one ormore of the shortcomings and limitations set forth above.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the system providesseveral selectable automatic routines or methods of operation of a drivefor rotating a rotor of a threshing system, each of which routinesprovides a sequence of movements which has been found to be advantageousfor dislodging, breaking up and/or freeing slugs or clogs of plantmaterial and/or debris from the crop separation clearance between therotor and the concave. The routines also have utility for operating afeeder, for freeing, dislodging and/or breaking up slugs therein.

An advantage of the invention is that the deslugging routines can beautomatically executed, such that speeds, directional changes, and otherparameters of the deslugging motion, such as profile and frequency, andresultant impulsive loading conditions useful for dislodging a slug, canbe achieved in a controlled manner, without requiring direct operatorcontrolled actions. This can eliminate differences in desluggingcapability resulting from different operator skill levels, consistencyand/or experience.

Another advantage is that the system will be more sensitive andresponsive to the effects of the deslugging actions than, for instance,an operator relying on experience, sounds, feel, instrument readings orsignals. It is thus expected that less or no damage to the combine willoccur as a result of the automatic threshing deslugging routines.

A preferred method of the invention includes steps including providing adrive controllably operable for rotating the rotor of the threshingsystem within the concave thereof in opposite first and secondrotational directions. This will typically comprise the existing rotordrive, which may be a conventional mechanical or hydro-mechanical, orhydro-drive.

Another step is providing a control, preferably processor based, inautomatic operative control of the drive. This will typically comprisethe existing or conventional microprocessor control.

Another step is providing at least one sensor for sensing informationrepresentative of load conditions opposing rotation of the rotor. Thiscan include, for instance a pressure transducer operable for sensingpressure conditions of the hydraulic portion of a hydro-mechanicaldrive. Other sensors and sensed information preferably include, but arenot limited to, a speed sensor for the mechanical input of the drive;stroke control valve information for the hydraulic input; and speedsensors for the hydraulic drive output and for the rotor. According to apreferred aspect of the invention, the control is programmed to includea suitable signal filtering and processing capability for theapplication and/or the sensor and other signals being processed, whichcan be, for instance, but is not limited to, a simplified Kalman typefilter operable for filtering noise from the signals and processing andusing them with information representative of a current (or previous)state or states to estimate or predict the future current state of thesensed parameters and pertinent aspects of the threshing system.Information representative of the estimated or predicted state of thesystem is used by the control for executing the deslugging routine, andoptionally for selecting the deslugging routine to be used.

And, the invention includes providing a plurality of selectabledeslugging routines automatically executable by the control forcontrolling the drive.

Also preferably, prior to or during initial rotation of the rotor duringexecution of the routines, the concave is moved away from the rotor, forinstance using a remotely controlled actuator provided for setting thecrop separation clearance, and a gearbox or transmission of the drive isshifted into a low gear or speed range.

To execute a deslugging routine according to the invention, the routineis selected using an operator input device, and the controllerautomatically executes the routine. Or, optionally, the control can beprogrammed for automatically selecting or suggesting the routine to beused, and/or for adapting parameters of the routine to be used, forinstance, as a function of the current or predicted state of thethreshing system, as estimated or predicted and modeled using thesimplified Kalman filter or other program or routine providing asuitable signal filtering and processing capability. Thus the system ofthe invention, by virtue of usage of the signal filtering and processingcapability, can be configured as an adaptive system.

Examples of preferred deslugging routines according to the inventioninclude, but are not limited to, automatic jogging or reciprocatingactions or movements of controlled travel or extent. Othersautomatically vary or alter the direction of rotation and/or duration ofrotation in a direction responsive to sensed conditions representativeof, for instance, opposition to the rotation resulting from a slug,and/or the position or movements of a slug about the concave. Forinstance, in one routine the rotor is rotated automatically in at leastone of the first and second rotational directions, and the rotation isautomatically reversed responsive to presence of informationrepresentative of a predetermined loading condition opposing therotation. This can be useful as it may indicate the location of the slugcircumferentially about the concave and the severity of the blockage,and the routine is automatically adaptable using the Kalman filter orother suitable signal processor in a manner to more optimally dislodge,break up, free or progressively move the slug through the threshingsystem.

Another routine includes automatically rotating the rotor alternatinglyin the first and second rotational directions through progressivelyincreasing increments of rotational travel. As another routine, therotor is automatically rotated alternatingly in the first and secondrotational directions through increasing increments of rotationalmovement while the sensed information representative of loads opposingthe rotation is monitored for information representative of apredetermined load level. Then, with the current and future state of thesystem determined using the Kalman filter, at least one subsequentincrement of rotational movement is automatically altered responsive topresence of the information representative of the predetermined loadlevel. Thus, for instance, a predetermined load level can representcontact or impact with a slug, and the alteration of the subsequentincrement of rotation can include, for instance, but is not limited to,increasing an extent of a subsequent increment of rotation in therotational direction for which the predetermined load level is present,or the speed of rotation, for instance, so as to move against the slugfor dislodging or freeing it, or for generating a greater impulse forceon impact with the slug.

Still another routine is an agitating routine wherein the rotorreciprocally moved in an agitating motion which can have predeterminedor settable characteristics which can include, but are not limited to,rotational speed, profile, amplitude, frequency, waveform symmetry andduration. For instance, the agitation motion can be stronger and moreforceful in one rotational direction compared to the other. Anotherroutine is a jogging routine wherein the rotor is jogged in angularincrements relative to the concave. The state of the system, asestimated or predicted using the Kalman or other suitable filter orroutine, can be used for determining the parameters (rotational speed,profile, amplitude, frequency, waveform symmetry and duration, and jog)to be used in the selected deslugging routine.

Upon selection of a desired routine, the routine will be automaticallyexecuted by the control. Additionally, during or after the execution ofat least one of the deslugging routines, the controller can beprogrammed to automatically store information representative of at leastloading conditions sensed during the execution, and automatically selector adapt a subsequent deslugging routine for execution as a function ofthe stored information. A deslugging routine or strategy selection maybe based upon any of a number of considerations or factors, such as thenature or type of crop being harvested, characteristics of the sluggingcondition, such as loads that arise during operation of the threshingsystem and/or initial deslugging steps which may be manually executed orautomatic, again which can be done automatically using the estimated orpredicted state of the threshing system from the Kalman filter inconjunction with accumulated run time adaptations of the baselineparameters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an agricultural combine including a feeder anda threshing system adapted for use with the deslugging methods andsystem of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified and view of a rotor and concave of the threshingsystem of the combine of FIG. 1, illustrating the concave in analternative position moved away from the rotor for enlarging a cropseparation clearance according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic of a drive and a control operable forrotating a rotor of the threshing system of the combine of FIG. 1,including for execution of the deslugging methods of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a high-level flow diagram illustrating steps of a method ofthe invention, including steps of a first selectable deslugging routineof the invention;

FIG. 5 is a continuation of the diagram of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is another continuation of the diagram of FIGS. 4 and 5,illustrating steps of a second selectable deslugging routine;

FIG. 7 is another continuation of the diagram of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6,showing steps of a third routine;

FIG. 8 is another continuation of the diagram, illustrating steps of afourth routine;

FIG. 9 is another continuation of the diagram, illustrating steps ofstill another deslugging routine; and

FIG. 10 is still another continuation of the diagram, illustrating stillanother deslugging routine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to likeparts, in FIG. 1 an agricultural combine 20 is shown, including a feeder22, and a threshing system 24, each of which is adapted for use with adeslugging method and system of the invention, as will be explainedhereinafter.

Feeder 22 is mounted on a front end 26 of combine 20 generally beneathan operator cab 28. A header (not shown) is mountable on a forward end30 of feeder 22, and is constructed and operable in the well-knownmanner for severing crops and other plant material from the ground ascombine 20 is moved forwardly thereover, and conveying the cut crops andother plant material to an inlet opening on forward end 30 of feeder 22.Feeder 22 includes a feeder housing 32 containing a feed conveyor 34operable for conveying the crops and other plant material upwardly andrearwardly through housing 32 into an inlet region 36 of threshingsystem 24. Feed conveyor 34 generally includes at least two endlesschains 38 encircling drive sprockets 40 located in the rear end offeeder housing 32 and a drum 42 located in the forward end 30. Aplurality of slats (not shown) extend between chains 38 and facilitatethe conveying of the crop and other material through housing 32, in thewell-known manner. In this latter regard, drive sprockets 40 will berotated in a counterclockwise direction, for moving chains 38 and theslats upwardly and rearwardly along a floor 44 of housing 32, forconveying the crops and other material upwardly and rearwardly in thatdirection along the floor 44 to inlet region 36, also as is well known.

Referring also to FIG. 2, threshing system 24 includes a rotatable,generally cylindrical rotor 46 including a tapered forward end having atleast two vanes or flights 48 (FIG. 1) extending radially outwardlytherefrom. At least the lower region of rotor 46 rearwardly of flights48 is surrounded by a concave 50 located in radially outwardly spacedrelation thereto, defining a crop separation clearance 52 extendingcircumferentially at least partially around the outer cylindricalsurface of rotor 46. Referring more particularly to FIG. 2, concave 50is supported beneath rotor 46 by a support structure including a pivotalconnection 54 on one side, and one or more hanger straps 56 on the otherside. Hanger strap 56 is connected to a free end of an adjusting arm 58supported and controllably movable upwardly and downwardly by anactuator 60, which can be, for instance, a fluid cylinder. Actuator 60is of well-known, conventional construction, and can be controlled by anoperator using a control (not shown) in cab 28 in the well-known mannerto precisely position concave 50 within a range of relatively moreclosely spaced positions in relation to rotor 46 (represented in solidlines) providing a crop separation clearance suitable for separation ofgrain from other crop material as rotor 46 is rotated. The position ofconcave 50 can be sensed or determined in the conventional, well knownmanner using a concave position sensor 61, which can be associated withor incorporated into actuator 60, or located elsewhere for sensinginformation representative of the position of concave 50 relative torotor 46. Actuator 60 can also be controlled in the same manner toposition concave 50 in at least one more lowered position (representedin dotted lines) wherein the crop separation clearance is opened so asto be suitable for facilitating deslugging operations according to thepresent invention, as will be explained. In some instances, concave 50may constructed or supported so as to automatically drop or open to alowered position, as a result of loads applied there against such as canresult from a slug.

In operation, actuator 60 will be used to adjust the position of concave50 and thus crop separation clearance 52, to provide desired threshingcharacteristics for the crop to be harvested and yields, underconditions present during the harvesting operation. As combine 20 ismoved forwardly through a field, crops and other plants severed by theheader (not shown) will be conveyed to feeder 22, and through feeder 22to threshing system 24, wherein a mat of the crop and other plantmaterial will move in a generally helical path through crop separationclearance 52, as effected by rotation of rotor 46. Grain and other smallelements of plant material will then pass through arrays of openings orspaces in concave 50, so as to fall therefrom onto a cleaning system(not shown) of combine 20, which will further clean the grain from theother small elements of plant material. From the cleaning system, theclean grain will be conveyed into a clean grain tank 62, in thewell-known conventional manner. Larger elements of plant material, suchas straw, leaves, stalks, cobs, and the like, which do not pass throughthe openings of concave 50 are conveyed through crop separationclearance 52 past the rear end of rotor 46 and concave 50, and aredisposed of through the rear end of combine 20, also in the well-knownmanner.

Referring also to FIG. 3, a drive 64 is connected in rotatably drivingrelation to rotor 46, and is controllably operable for rotating rotor 46relative to concave 50, for threshing harvested crops as just explained.A control 66, preferably including a microprocessor based controller 68,is connected in operative control of drive 64, and with drive 64,comprises the system for deslugging threshing system 24 according to theteachings of the present invention.

Drive 64 includes a multiple speed transmission or gearbox 70 connectedto rotor 46 for rotation therewith; a planetary gear arrangement 72having a carrier 74 connected to gearbox 70 for rotation therewith; anda sun gear 76 in rotatable connection with a fluid motor 78. A ring gear80 of arrangement 72 is rotatably connectable to an engine gear 82 by anengine to ring clutch 84. Engine gear 82, in turn, is rotatablyconnected via a gearbox 86 to an engine 88. Ring gear 80 is alsoconnectable to the frame of the combine by a ring to frame clutch 85.Fluid motor 78 is connected in a fluid loop with a variable displacementfluid pump 90 for receiving pressurized fluid therefrom, thedisplacement of pump 90 being controllable by a stroke control valve 92.Stroke control valve 92 is connected via a conductive path 94 tocontroller 68 of control 66 for receiving control commands therefrom andoutputting signals representative of stroke position thereto.

Control 66 includes several sensors for sensing informationrepresentative of the operating state and conditions of drive 64,including speed sensors 96 and 98 connected via conductive path 94 tocontroller 68, and also to a signal processing filter 100, which can be,for instance, a simplified Kalman type signal filter, or other suitablesignal filtering and processing routine or device having capabilitiesuseful for the purposes of the present invention. Speed sensors 96 and98 are operable for sensing information representative of speeds ofrotor 46 and sun gear 76, respectively, and outputting informationrepresentative thereof to controller 68. Another speed sensor 102 isconnected via a conductive path 94 to controller 68 and is operable forsensing information representative of a speed of engine 88 andoutputting the information to the controller. A pressure transducer 104is connected via a conductive path 94 to controller 68 and to filter100, and is operable for sensing pressure conditions in fluid linesextending to and from motor 78 and outputting information representativethereof to the controller and filter.

Still further, engine to ring clutch 84 and ring to frame clutch 85 areconnected to controller 68, as indicated by boxes 106, for controlthereby for rotatably connecting and disconnecting ring gear 80 andengine gear 82, and ring gear 80 and the frame of the machine,respectively. Control 66 is also connected by a controller area network(CAN) 108 to engine 88 and other vehicle controllers and systems,generally denoted by box 110, via suitable conductive paths 94.Controller 68 additionally is connected via one or more conductive paths94 to one or more displays 112, and one or more operator input devices114, located for instance, in operator cab 28, operable for displayinginformation, and inputting operator commands to control 66,respectively.

For operation in a threshing mode, an operator will select a gear rangeof gearbox 70 for achieving a desired rotational speed range for rotor46, which is typically dependent on the crop type and any of a varietyof other conditions, and pump 90 will be stroked and ring to frameclutch 85 and engine to ring clutch 84 sequentially engaged, asrequired, for achieving a desired rotor speed by a combination ofhydrostatic and hydro-mechanic acceleration and speed control. Concave50 will be positioned using actuator 60 (FIG. 2) as required forachieving a desired crop separation clearance 52. The speed of rotationof rotor 46 within the selected speed range can be varied by varying thestroke of pump 90, the state of engagement or disengagement of engine toring clutch 84 and engine speed, and will also be affected by otherfactors such as crop loads and conditions, particularly the presence ofa slug.

During normal harvesting, the commands outputted by controller 68 tostroke control valve 92, and information outputted by valve 92;information outputted by speed sensors 96, 98 and 102; and pressureinformation from transducer 104, are inputted to control 66 forprocessing by filter 100, wherein they can be used for modeling thethreshing operation, particularly to estimate or predict the currentstate thereof to discern the, particularly relating to the presence of,and extent of, any slugging conditions. Likewise, during a desluggingroutine or routines, this information can be utilized by controller 68using filter 100 for evaluation of effectiveness of the routine orroutines for present conditions, location and extent of a sluggingcondition, for use in selecting a subsequent deslugging routine. Alldeslugging processes are executed in the hydrostatic state with ring toframe clutch 85 engaged and engine to ring clutch 84 disengaged. Thehydrostatic state permits forward and reverse rotary control.

The method and system of the invention provides several operator orautomatically selectable automatic routines or methods of operation of adrive, such as drive 64, by a control, such as control 66, for rotatinga rotor of a threshing system, such as rotor 46, for dislodging,breaking up or freeing slugs or clogs of plant material and/or debrisfrom the crop separation clearance between the rotor and the concave.

Non-limiting examples of automatic deslugging routines of the inventioninclude reciprocating actions or movements of controlled travel orextent, which will be a function of direction and duration of rotationalmovement of the rotor at the selected speed. Others automatically varyor alter the direction and/or duration of rotation in a directionresponsive to sensed conditions representative of, for instance,opposition to the rotation resulting from a slug, and/or the position ormovements of a slug about the concave, again filter 100 being usable forestimating the states of the threshing system for discerning theexistence of and pertinent parameters of any slugs.

Another routine includes automatically rotating the rotor alternatinglyin the first and second rotational directions through progressivelyincreasing increments of rotational travel. As another routine, therotor is automatically rotated alternatingly in the first and secondrotational directions through increasing increments of rotationalmovement while the sensed information representative of loads opposingthe rotation is monitored for information representative of apredetermined load level, which can be indicative of characteristics ofa slugging condition, or success of the deslugging routine. This, andpossibly other sensed information, as well as information representativeof a state or states of the threshing system, can be used by control 66for estimating a future state or states of the system, using filter 100.Then, at least one subsequent increment of rotational movement isautomatically altered responsive to presence of the informationrepresentative of the predetermined load level. Thus, for instance, apredetermined load level can represent contact with a slug, and thealteration of the subsequent increment of rotation can include, forinstance, but is not limited to, increasing an extent of a subsequentincrement of rotation in the rotational direction for which thepredetermined load level is present, or changing speed of rotation, soas to be more effective for dislodging, breaking up or freeing a slug.Another routine is an agitating routine wherein the rotor isreciprocally moved in an agitating motion which can have predeterminedor settable characteristics which can include, but are not limited to,profile, amplitude, frequency, waveform symmetry and duration. Any ofthese characteristics can be adapted or modified based on changesbetween a past state of the system and the current state as estimated orpredicted using filter 100.

Another routine is a jogging routine wherein the rotor is jogged inangular increments relative to the concave.

As noted above, a deslugging routine or strategy selection may be basedupon any of a number of considerations or factors, such as the nature ortype of crop being harvested, characteristics of the slugging condition,such as loads that arise during operation of the threshing system and/orinitial deslugging steps which may be manually executed or automatic.

Preferred steps of exemplary routines of the method and system of theinvention are illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Referringmore particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, in a flow diagram 116, once a slugor slugging condition of a threshing system such as threshing system 24is detected, a warning may be outputted to the operator, and the rotorwill be brought to a halt. In each instance, as denoted at block 118,the multiple speed gearbox (if any) will preferably be shifted to a lowgear if not already in low, and the concave will be lowered to increasethe crop separation clearance, as denoted by blocks 120 and 122. Thesesteps can be performed by the operator, or automatically. Next, forinstance utilizing display 112, several selectable deslugging routineswill be displayed and can be selected using, for instance, input device114. At decision block 124, controller 68 will determine if option 1 ofthe several options is selected. If so, the operator will input a speedand select a direction and duration of movement of rotor 46, as denotedat blocks 126 and 128. This can include a single direction of movement,or an initial direction. In the former instance, if only a single speed,direction and duration of movement are selected, when executed, asdenoted at block 130, controller 68 will responsively automaticallyinitiate and execute a controlled rotation of rotor 46 in acorresponding manner. In the latter instance, controller 68 willresponsively automatically execute a controlled rotation of rotor 46 inthe first selected direction at the selected speed for the selectedduration, then reverse the direction of rotation and rotate rotor 46 inthe opposite direction at the selected speed for the selected duration.Controller 68 will then determine whether the routine is to be canceled,as denoted at decision block 132, and if not, will return to block 126and loop through execution block 130. Cancellation can be by theoperator, or automatic, for instance, as a result of the occurrence ofsome condition, such as dislodgement of the slug.

Returning to decision block 124, and also viewing FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9and 10, if option 1 is not selected, controller 68 will determine anoption 2 is selected (FIGS. 5 and 6), as denoted at decision block 134,and if that option is not selected, will proceed to sequentiallydetermine whether any of the subsequent available options are selected,as denoted by the sequence of decision blocks 136, 138, 140 and 142.Here, it should be recognized and understood that, although six optionalselectable deslugging routines are presented, a greater or lesser numbercan be utilized within the teachings of the present invention.

Going through the exemplary options, as illustrated in FIG. 6, if option2 is selected, the operator will select a direction of movement, asdenoted at block 144, and a travel increment, as denoted at block 146.Controller 68 will then execute the commanded routine as denoted atblock 148. The routine can then be canceled, as denoted at decisionblock 150, or the direction of movement and travel increment changed asthe controller loops through blocks 144, 146, 148 and 150. Cancellationcan again be automatic, for instance, responsive to a sensed conditionor information indicative of dislodgment or clearance of a slug, such asa reduced sensed pressure condition during rotation of the rotor, as canbe determined by estimating or predicting the present or future state ofthe threshing system using filter 100.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, if option 3 is selected, the operator willselect a speed or travel increment, as denoted at block 152. Controller68 will then rotate rotor 46 at the selected speed and/or incrementwhile monitoring loading conditions exerted in response to the rotation,as denoted at block 154. If the monitored load does not reach apredetermined or preset level, as determined at decision block 156,controller 68 will loop through the steps of blocks 154 and 156 untilthe level is reached, or the routine is canceled, again, either by theoperator or automatically. If the preset load level is reached,controller 68 will reverse the direction of rotation, as denoted atblock 158 and return to block 154, and again monitor the loadingconditions. If the preset loading level is not reached, the controllerwill continue to rotate the rotor in the latest direction while loopingthrough the steps of blocks 154 and 156. If, at block 156 it isdetermined that the preset load level has been reached, the direction ofrotation will again be reversed and the controller will continue tomonitor loads. As a result, rotor 46 will be alternatingly rotated atthe selected speed, and/or to the selected extent of travel, in theopposite directions, responsive to the reaching of the preset loadlevel. This routine will be repeated, or can be canceled after somecondition is met or detected.

In FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, steps of several agitating routines areillustrated. Referring to FIG. 8, if, at decision block 138 option 4 isselected, an agitation motion is selected, as denoted at block 160. As aresult, controller 68 will prompt the operator to select presetparameters of the agitator motion or set new parameters, as summarizedat block 162. Such parameters can include, but are not limited to, speedof rotation, motion profile, amplitude, frequency, waveform symmetry andduration. Once the parameters are set, controller 68 will execute theagitator motion, as denoted at block 164, until the routine is canceled,as denoted at decision block 166. Again, cancellation can be initiatedby operator action, or automatically. Any of the parameters, forinstance, frequency, can be modified automatically by controller 68,based on the estimated state of the threshing system determined usingfilter 100.

Also referring to FIG. 9, a fifth option is an agitator motion routinewherein during the execution of the routine, loading conditions aremonitored and the motion parameters (e.g., speed, profile, amplitude,frequency, waveform symmetry and/or duration) are automatically alteredas a function of the monitored load, as denoted by the sequence of stepsof blocks 168, 17.0, 172, 174 and 176. This sequence of steps will berepeated in a looping action until canceled, as denoted by block 178.

Finally, referring to FIG. 10, selection of a sixth option, as denotedat block 142, will initiate operation in an agitator motion, as denotedat block 180, wherein the loading conditions will be monitored, as wellas a direction of clearance. In this mode, parameters of the agitatormotion (speed, profile, amplitude, frequency, waveform symmetry and/orduration) are set, as denoted at block 182, and can be individuallyselected by the operator, or can be predetermined or preset. Controller68 will then execute the agitator motion, as denoted at block 184.During the rotation of rotor 46 in the agitator motion, controller 68will monitor both load and direction of clearance, as denoted at blocks186 and 188. Here, direction of clearance connotes a direction ofrotation which is not impeded or is less impeded by the slug sought tobe cleared or dislodged. That is, when rotor 46 is rotated in onedirection, elevated loading conditions will be encountered which will beindicative of encountering the slug, which elevated loading conditionswill not be encountered or will be less when rotor 46 is rotated in theopposite direction. Such elevated loading conditions can be determinedas a function of pressure conditions sensed by transducer 104. As aresult of the presence of such elevated loading conditions andinformation representative of the direction of rotation in which suchloading conditions are encountered, one or more of the motion parameterscan be altered, to effect a successful deslugging strategy, as denotedat block 190. After execution of the altered motion, if conditionsindicative of clearing of the slug are present (e.g. reduced pressurewhen rotating the rotor in the direction wherein the elevated loadingconditions were encountered), the routine can be canceled, either by anoperator or automatically, as denoted at block 192. Again, any of theparameters for the deslugging routines just discussed, can be modifiedautomatically by controller 68, based on the estimated state of thethreshing system determined using filter 100.

Additionally, during or after the execution of at least one of thedeslugging routines, controller 68 can be programmed to automaticallycollect and store information representative of at least loadingconditions sensed during the execution, for instance as filtered andprocessed using filter 100, and automatically select a subsequentdeslugging routine for execution as a function of the stored informationand/or modeled system. A deslugging routine or strategy selection may beadapted and based upon any of a number of considerations or factors,such as the nature or type of crop being harvested, characteristics ofthe slugging condition, such as loads that arise during operation of thethreshing system and/or initial deslugging steps which may be manuallyexecuted or automatic.

As a result of the above disclosure, it should be apparent that thedeslugging method and system of the invention have utility for improvingthe ability to effectively dislodge, break up and/or free slugs from athreshing system of a combine, such as system 24 of combine 20, whiledecreasing occurrences of problems such as damage to the threshingsystem or drive, which can occur as a result of a variety of factorssuch as inappropriate speeds, impulse loading conditions, and the like.It should also be apparent that the automatic deslugging routines of theinvention can be executed in a more controlled and precise manner,compared to execution of similar routines under operator control whereinoperator skill level, experience and other factors will impact theeffectiveness. For instance in this regard, the ability of the system ofthe invention to monitor and respond to sensed loading condition will beexpected to be substantially better than the response of an operator tosuch conditions, at least in part as a result of the signal filteringand processing using filter 100. It should also be understood thatalthough the preferred signal processing filter 100 is of the simplifiedKalman type, other suitable filters or routines may be used by control66 for discerning the state of the threshing system for the purposes ofthe present invention.

It should also be recognized and understood that the method and systemof the invention can be applied to operation of a feed conveyor, such asconveyor 34 of feeder 22.

It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps, andarrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated toexplain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made bythose skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within theprinciples and scope of the invention. The foregoing descriptionillustrates the preferred embodiments of the invention; however,concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in otherembodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.Accordingly, the following claims are intended to protect the inventionbroadly as well as in the specific form shown.

1. A method for deslugging a threshing system of an agriculturalcombine, comprising steps of: providing a drive controllably operablefor rotating a rotor of the threshing system within a concave thereof,in opposite first and second rotational directions; providing a controlin operative control of the drive; providing a sensor for sensinginformation representative of load conditions opposing rotation of therotor; providing a plurality of selectable deslugging routinesautomatically executable by the control for controlling the drive,including: a. a routine wherein the rotor is automatically rotatedalternatingly in the first rotational direction and in the secondrotational direction, through predetermined increments of rotationaltravel; b. a routine wherein the rotor is automatically rotated in atleast one of the first and second rotational directions, and wherein therotation is automatically reversed responsive to presence of informationrepresentative of a predetermined loading condition opposing therotation; c. a routine wherein the rotor is automatically rotatedalternatingly in the first and second rotational directions throughprogressively increasing increments of rotational travel; and d. aroutine wherein the rotor is automatically rotated alternatingly in thefirst and second rotational directions through increasing increments ofrotational movement while the sensed information representative of loadsopposing the rotation is monitored for information representative of apredetermined load level, and wherein at least one subsequent incrementof rotational movement is automatically altered responsive to presenceof the information representative of the predetermined load level. 2.The method of claim 1, comprising a step of providing an actuatorcontrollably operable for moving the concave in a direction away fromthe rotor for increasing a separation clearance between the concave andthe rotor, and a step of moving the concave in the direction away fromthe rotor before or during initial rotation of the rotor duringexecution of a selected one of the deslugging routines.
 3. (canceled) 4.The method of claim 1, wherein when the information representative ofthe predetermined load level is present, the step of altering at leastone subsequent increment of rotation will comprise increasing an extentof a subsequent increment of rotation in the rotational direction forwhich the predetermined load level is present.
 5. The method of claim 1,comprising a further step of automatically terminating the execution ofthe selected routine when information representative of successfuldeslugging of the threshing system is present.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein the information representative of successful deslugging of thethreshing system comprises sensing a decreased load condition opposingthe rotation of the rotor indicative of dislodging of a blockage frombetween the rotor and the concave.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinduring or after the execution of at least one of the desluggingroutines, the control will automatically store informationrepresentative of at least loading conditions sensed during theexecution, and automatically select a subsequent deslugging routine forexecution as a function of the stored information.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the drive comprises a fluid driven motor, and theinformation representative of the predetermined loading conditionopposing the rotation is determined as a function of a pressurecondition of fluid driving the motor.
 9. The method of claim 1,comprising a step of providing a second sensor for sensing informationrepresentative of a speed of rotation of the rotor, and the informationrepresentative of the predetermined loading condition opposing therotation is determined as a function of sensed informationrepresentative of a speed of rotation of the rotor.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the drive comprises a multiple speed rangetransmission, and the method comprises a step of selecting a lowtransmission speed range prior to initiating the rotation of the rotor.11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a plurality ofselectable deslugging routines includes a routine wherein the rotor isautomatically jogged in one of the rotational directions.
 12. The methodof claim 1, wherein the step of providing a plurality of selectabledeslugging routines includes a routine wherein the rotor isautomatically rotated in a reciprocating agitating motion having atleast one predetermined characteristic.
 13. The method of claim 12,wherein the at least one predetermined characteristic comprises anamplitude.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the reciprocatingagitator motion has a predetermined waveform shape.
 15. The method ofclaim 14, wherein the waveform shape is asymmetrical.
 16. A method fordislodging a slug in a space between a rotatable rotor and a concave ofa threshing system of an agricultural combine, comprising steps of:providing a control in operative control of a drive operable forrotating the rotor in a first rotational direction and in a secondrotational direction opposite the first rotational direction; providinga sensor for sensing information representative of loads opposingrotation of the rotor and outputting a signal representative of theinformation to the control; providing a plurality of selectabledeslugging routines automatically executable by the control, including:a. a routine wherein the rotor is rotated reciprocally in the first andsecond rotational directions while sensing loads opposing the rotation,determining if the sensed loads are greater in one of the rotationaldirections, and, if so, then increasing an extent of rotationalmovements in the one of the directions in which the sensed loads aregreater; b. a routine wherein the rotor is controllably rotated in atleast one of the first and second rotational directions, and reversingthe direction of the rotation when information representative of apredetermined lead level opposing the rotation is present: and c. aroutine wherein the rotor is rotated alternatingly in the first andsecond rotational directions through increasing extents of rotationalmovement; d. a routine wherein the rotor is automatically rotatedalternatingly in the first and second rotational directions throughincreasing increments of rotational movement while the sensedinformation representative of loads opposing the rotation is monitoredfor information representative of a predetermined load level, andwherein at least one subsequent increment of rotational movement isautomatically altered responsive to presence of the informationrepresentative of the predetermined load level; and selecting andautomatically executing at least one of the routines.
 17. The method ofclaim 16, wherein the plurality of selectable deslugging routinesautomatically executable by the control additionally includes a routinewherein the rotor is automatically rotated in an agitating motion havinga predetermined profile of agitation.
 18. The method of claim 16,comprising a step of providing an actuator controllably operable formoving the concave in a direction away from the rotor for increasing aseparation clearance between the concave and the rotor, and a step ofmoving the concave in the direction away from the rotor before or duringinitial rotation of the rotor during execution of a selected one of thedeslugging routines.
 19. The method of claim 16, comprising a furtherstep of automatically canceling the execution of the selected routinewhen the slug is dislodged. 20-27. (canceled)